Paying my respects to Robert Redford's essential roles

Robert Redford

Following a critically acclaimed turn in All Is Lost and a very commercially successful villainous role in the blockbuster Captain America: The Winter Solider, Hollywood legend Robert Redford is enjoying something akin to a career renaissance as he approaches the age of 80.

He's been revered for his creation of the Sundance Film Festival, which has become a safe space for generations of burgeoning independent filmmakers, and he is also gets kudos for being the industry's golden boy leading man heartthrob of the 1970s. And on a personal note he gave the commencement address at my graduation ceremony at Bard College in 2004.

What is often overlooked is that besides being an accomplished filmmaker (his Ordinary People won best picture in 1980) he is also a terrific actor, who has done consistently strong work for six decades now.

As I did with his famous co-star Paul Newman, I wanted to look back on my favorite performances of his, in an attempt to put his considerable achievements in context.

The Chase (1966): Although he later became the most sought after leading man in Hollywood, most of his early films, like this ahead-of-its-time character study of a southern town awash in corruption and bigotry, were flops. Redford plays an escaped convict on the lam. He holds his own in a film dominated by star Marlon Brando and shows flashes of the charisma that made him an icon.

Downhill Racer (1969): A rare glimpse of the darker side of Redford's range is this fascinating, experimental film which takes a no-holds-barred look at the world of athletics (in this case Olympic level skiing) and the sometimes narcissistic athletes that inhabit it. As the film progresses Redford's character get progressively less likable which adds a wonderful ambiguity to the finale.

Butch Cassidy & the Sundance Kid (1969): This was the film that made Redford a household name and established his classic big screen partnership with Newman. Their chemistry can't be invented, they are the most roguish and handsome cowboys in movie history. Interestingly, Redford largely plays the reserved, monosyllabic character here -- but his appeal comes across.

The Candidate (1972): One of Redford's most fascinating early roles takes a prescient look at how our political process has become more and more about marketing and media. He plays a liberal idealist recruited to essentially lose a race respectably. But when his character starts to capture the voting public's imagination, the money people rush in to make sure he doesn't become too much of a change agent. A film that still holds up today.

Redford with his Best Director Oscar

The Sting (1973): The biggest hit of Redford's early career and the one time he was ever recognized by the Academy Awards for his acting. He's teamed up with Newman again, but this time he is the real protagonist of this highly influential caper film. Every heist movie since owes a debt to this film and it's given real heft thanks to Redford's physical and earnest performance in it.

Three Days of the Condor (1975): The kind of taut, paranoid thriller that became some of a calling card for Redford in his career. He plays an unwitting CIA analyst who is drawn into a murderous plot and forced to pick up a gun. I'm actually shocked that Hollywood has never remade this film; it has a rapid fire pace and a killer ending.

All the President's Men (1976): Quite possibly the best film of Redford's career and one of his greatest all around success stories. Against most studio's judgement, he saw the commercial and storytelling value in bringing Washington Post reporters Carl Berstein and Bob Woodward's investigation into the Watergate break-in and cover-up to the big screen. It now stands as one of the all-time great journalism movies.

The Natural (1984): After 1980, Redford took a surprisingly long self-imposed break from acting. This heroic baseball movie was his triumphant return. The movie works in part because it is shamelessly hokey and understands the allure of the Redford mystique. It's plot doesn't make a ton of sense but it makes up for any shortcomings with some truly magical, awe-inspiring moments.

Legal Eagles (1986): A largely forgotten little romantic comedy, this film isn't going to make many top 10 lists (it was originally intended for Bill Murray, oddly enough) but it's a pleasant '80s diversion and it provides ample evidence that Redford had a knack for light laughs. He is lovable enough that you forgive him for romancing two leading ladies (Darryl Hannah and Debra Winger) at the same time.

Sneakers (1992): One of my personal favorites ever since I was kid, this all-star film about quirky schemers who break in and out of elaborate locales is a lot of fun and criminally underrated. The movie was a modest hit, but I think it deserved to be a big one. The actors elevate the material and there are some truly great suspenseful sequences throughout.

The Horse Whisperer (1998): Some may snicker at this film as a weepie romantic drama, but Redford (directing himself for the first time) brings real grit and gravitas to the material. The romance element may be too chaste for modern tastes, but I think it's a touching little story told on an epic scale, with beautiful use of its rustic locations.

All Is Lost (2013): For a little over a decade, Redford appeared to be falling off a bit. He was no longer a significant draw at the box office and he seemed to be struggling to find the right material to match his talents. Then out of nowhere came this blast of cinematic originality. Redford holds the screen alone and gives a nearly wordless performance for the ages. It's mind blowing that he didn't get nominated for this stunning, emotional turn. Still, it reminded a whole new audience of what a great actor he is.